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Elegance After Dark
Evening Wear in Louisiana, 1896-1996
Anything Goes, 1965-1979
No one fashion shape dominated this eclectic period. Dress for evening was very relaxed,
including unconstructed tunics, pants and caftans in flowing fabrics. The overall look was soft
and fluid. Skin was bared in halter dresses and strapless gowns. Legs were bared in mini-skirts
that rose as high as nine inches above the knee. A youthful feeling predominated. The "mod"
boyish look of models like "Twiggy" was emulated. Bright, psychedelic colors and flower prints
became popular.
The closing of the design house of Balenciaga in 1968 presaged a decline in the leading role of
haute couture in the mid 1970s. An eclectic, less formal feeling took hold. Nostalgia was
expressed through use of stylistic elements of earlier periods. The counterculture's interest in
ethnic cultures around the world, particularly in the East, also steered designers to new, exotic
looks.
Fashion in the 1960s and early 1970s reflected the radical spirit of the times. The 1960s
began with Jacqueline Kennedy-inspired outfits, characterized by slim sheaths and elegant
simplicity. Some women soon abandoned this understated style in favor or the youthful look of
the counterculture. The civil rights, antiwar and student movements, along with rock music,
encouraged a liberal fashion mentality even in more conservative circles. New styles caught some
institutions by surprise. In 1972 the Louisiana House of Representatives hastily amended its dress
code and restricted women to skirts and dresses after a committee employee showed up in hot
pants. The next day the unrepentant worker wore a mini-skirt.
Even formal wear followed this general trend as women's evening styles ranged from pants
to mini-skirts. In the 1970s such eclectic fashions as halter dresses, caftans and tunics (sometimes paired with pants or long skirts) found their way into the formal wardrobe. The women's
movement, which condemned restrictive bras and girdles, played some part in determining new
styles, as loose-fitting flowing designs captured the spirit of the times.
Section
7- Power and Opulence
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